With Pat Healy confirming he would no longer be fighting at ACB 54: Supersonic, a new opponent has been found for British lightweight Saul Rogers ahead of Saturday’s event.
Despite the fight being two days away, Metro.co.uk have reported that welterweight Aurel Pirtea (11-8) has stepped into the void created by Healy’s injury and will make his lightweight debut on short notice in Manchester.
“The Miner” is understood to be flying in to Manchester to sign the bout agreement to fight Rogers later this afternoon.
The 28-year-old Romanian has four wins in his last five fights finishing all of them by submission and predominantly fights in his home country for regional promotion RXF.
Although lacking big names on his record, Pirtea did face UFC star Rashid Magomedov early in his career on the Ukrainian regional scene back in 2011. Magomedov would win the bout via a unanimous decisiom victory.
Rogers (12-1) is looking to build on his successful ACB 47 debut last year in Glasgow, Scotland, where he made quick work of Michel Adalena, winning by first round submission.
The former TUF 22 finalist was denied his chance of winning the competition when visa issues prevented him from competing in the final against Artem Lobov. Ryan Hall would take his place and win the season despite being beaten by Rogers in the quarter finals.
Also, light-heavyweight Przemyslaw Mysiala has been removed from the event completely after no suitable replacement could be found for original opponent Vinny Magalhães.
Former UFC and WSOF star Magalhaes was seen as a big coup for the Russian promotion however an injury has forced him from the event at short notice.
